Amalgamating machine



July 5, 1938. G. ci. ANDERSON AMALGAMATING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 14, 1936 III FIG.

|NVENTORI GUY C. ANDERSCN @mw/ ATTORNEY July 5, 1938. G. c, ANDERSON 2,122,400

AMALGAMATING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 3.

F'IG. 4.

-l -lNvaNroR; 32 GUY c. ANDERSON ATTORNEY Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMALGAMATING MACHINE Guy C. Anderson, San Francisco, Calif.

vllpplicatio'n January 14, 1936, Serial No. 59,060

5 Claims.

This inventionrelates to improvements in amalgamating machines and more particularly to gold separators and the method of separating precious values from mineral pulp.

In the natural state gold' particles are often fcundin close association with magnetite, iron magnetic oxides and'non-ferrous magnetizable materials'especially in black sand. Finel gold may adhere rto such materials, orthe gold may beencased in films containing magnetizable constituents.

Among the objects of the invention is to effect mechanical separation of the gold from the magnetizable materials without removing such materials from the aggregated mass.

Another object is to facilitate the amalgamationrof free gold and gold bearing particles in the presence of mercury. I

Another object is to subject the amalgamating area to the influence of amagnetic field.

`Anotherobject is to subject gold bearing pulp toga rubbingaction in the presence of mercury within a magnetic field; Y e

Afurther'object is'to subject gold bearing pulp in'the-epresenceof mercury to Vibratoryoscillations of high frequency. y

Y v@ther objects and advantages will appear as the description progresses.

In this specification and the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in its preferred form. Howeverit'is to be understood that it is not limited 'toi this form because Vit may be embodied in other forms within thepurview of the claims `following the description. p

11n. the two sheets of drawings: 'e ff Fig. l is a vvevrtical section of an amalgamating millj constructed in accordance with this invention."

Fig; 2 'is `a4 plane detail of the rotor and stator faces.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation, partially in vertical section, of the magnetic amalgamating trap for use in combination with the amalgamating mill in the present process of magnetic-amalgamation.

Fig. 4 is a detail view in horizontal section of one of the baffles in the amalgamating trap.

In detail the construction illustrated in the drawings, referring first to Fig. 1, comprises the magnetic bowl I, mounted vupon the pedestal 2 n suitable base. A series of mills may be l i riven from a com- The vertical shaft 'I extends upward through this neck and Vis mounted in the radial thrust bearing 8 and the step bearing 9 supported within the pedestal. This shaft is driven by the bevel gear I and the gear II xed on the countershaft I2, which is driven by the pulley I3 or any other suitable means.

The rotor I4 has the upstanding blind hub I5 clearing the neck 6 and is splined on the end of the shaft 1. The rotor clears the bottom of the bowl and has the upper flat tractive surface I6, provided with the depressions I'I. The nature of this grinding or rubbing surface can be varied to suit the particular nature of the pulp being l acted upon.

The stator I8 is similar to the rotor in general outline and has the surface I6 contacting therewith, and the center dome I9 enclosing the hub of the rotor.

The splash plate or cover is bolted to the rim 3 and overhangs the stator. The manual stud screws 2| are fixed in the stator I8 and threaded through the hand wheels 2| above the cover to regulate the mechanical pressure against the pulp flowing between the rotor and stator.

Therpulp introduced into the dome I9 through the hopper 22 is distributed by the rotating hub I5 of the rotor and passes between the rotor I4 and stator I8 before escaping through the overfiow pipe 23 fixed through the rim 3 beneath the cover-2D.

The inductive coil 24 of an electro-magnet is introduced between the flanges 4 and 5 and encircles the rim of the bowl in line with the rotor and stator. This coil is in circuit with the generator 25 and the switch 26. When the switch is closed the coil is energized and creates a magnetic field acting upon the magnetic/.able material passing through the mill' and particularly while being rubbed between the rotor and stator.

Where rst cost is a controlling factor the apparatus can be built of cast iron. But the iron tends to shield or concentrate the magnetic lines of force within the iron of the bowl. It is preferable therefore to form the bowl and other parts within the magnetic field of non-magnetic material. There are metal alloys and vitreous materials suitable for the purpose, which will permit the magnetic force to act directly upon the magnetic oxides and the like, in the liowing pulp.

From the overflow 23 the pulp is conducted wer end of the columnar trap 21 A md nvermstl. The

coil 29 in circuit with the generator 25 and the switch 30.

The trap 2l contains the mercury 3| in its lower portion with the amalgam draw off pipe 32 at its lowest point. To impede 'the flow'of pulp, keep it turbulent and thoroughly mixed the series of bafe disks 32, interspaced on the rod 33, are inserted into the trap to force the pulp into more diiTused contact with the mercury 3i.

The same magnetic conditions are set up in the trap as exist in the bowl l. The trap 2l is intended to amalgamate any gold values not taken up inthe bowl. Y

The pulp being fed through the hopper 22 is mixedfwith mercury in a divided state and is rubbed into Contact with the gold particles in passing between the rotor and stator Iii-i8. The mercury 34 accumulates in the bottom of the bowl I, and is kept constantly agitated by the rotor so that the surface of the mercury 34 is kept bright and lively to select any gold values issuing at the peripheral discharge from the rotor-stator lll-i8, into the bowl. action disintegrates any tarnish or film coatings enveloping the gold or other values andrrenders them more readily amalgamatable. While there is a certain grinding action takes place between the rotor and stator due to the gritty nature of the pulp the particular function is to rub the gold into the mercury and cause the mechanical separation of the precious values from the granular material of the pulp.

Much of this material is magnetic oxide and other magnetizable material polarized or magnetically activated in the magnetic eld of the bowl I and the trap 21. ri this condition the adhesive force is broken or minimized and the amalgamatable values are immediately released and pass into the mercury.

The magnetic eld also prevents amalgamation of ferrous and ferric compounds. This makesk it possible by this process to recover precious values from ores and sands which have heretofore been impossible because of the sickening of the mercury due to the absorption of iron compounds associated with the values.

The vibratory oscillations set up within the mercur.1 by the magnetic eld, especially when alternating current is used, tends to rupture thev This rubbing The eid strength and arrangement of the coils 2:1 and 29 may be widely varied in the application of the invention to the different types of amalgamators required for various mineral conditions. A field of 2000 gauss will suice for the amalgamating bowl illustrated. A considerable reduction of this eld strength will however not aiect the eiiicacjy1 of the amalgamation.

Having thus described this invention what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Eatent is: Y

1. A mill in the class described including a bowl; a pulp rubbing means in said bowl; an amalgamating substance in said bowl in contact with said rubbing means; an electro-magnetic coil surrounding said bowl; and means for passing alternating current through said coil.

2. A mill in the class described including a bowl; pulp rubbing means in said bowl; an amalgamating substance in said bowl in contact with said rubbing means; a single electro-magnetic coil arranged to set up a iield in said bowl; and means for passing alternating current through said coil.`

3. A millin thevclass described including bowl; a rotor in said bowl; means for driving said rotor; a stator in said bowl in operative relation to said rotor; means for adjusting sai-d stator with respect to said rotor; means for introducing the .pulp to be treated between vsaid rotor and said stator; an amalgamating substance in said bowl in contact with said rotor and stator; an electro-magnetic coil surrounding said bowl; and means for passing alternating current through said coil.

4. A mill in the class described including a bowl having an upwardly projecting neck; a rotor located below the level of said neck and having a hub extending above said neck; a shaft extending upwardly through said neck and engaging said hub; means for rotating said shaft; a stator in said bowl in operative relation to said rotor and having a hopper extending upwardly therefrom; an amalgamating substance-in said bowl in contact with said rotor and said stator;

an electro-magnetic coil surrounding said bowl;

and means for passing alternating current' through said coil.

5. A mill of the class described including a bowl; arotor in said bowl having a flat tractive surface with depressions therein; means for driving said rotor; a stator in said bowl having a Aflat surface `with depressions therein in operative relation with the flat surface of said rotor; an amalgamatinglsubstance.in said bowl incontact with said rotor and stator; an electro-magnetic coil surrounding said bowl; and means for passing alternating current through said coil.

' GUE? C. ANDERSON. 

